Barbary Partridge Alectoris barbara Scientific name definitions

34–38 cm; male c. 461 g, female c. 376 g; wingspan 46–49 cm. Differs from other Alectoris by chestnut-brown crown and broad neckband . Sexes almost identical, female only slightly smaller and lacks blunt spur of male (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Iris chestnut-brown, bill bright red , facial skin and legs rose-red (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Juvenile more uniform and yellowish; lacks distinctive head pattern and flanks barring, and bill and legs yellowish, but becomes much like adult by autumn (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Races differ mainly in flanks pattern , and also in overall tone of plumage coloration: <em>koenigi</em> differs from nominate in head , neck, breast and upperparts colder grey; <em>spatzi</em> is sandier than nominate race (with which it intergrades) with paler brown crown and gorget, almost whitish throat and supercilium, and has less boldly barred flanks; and barbata has throat and face bluish grey, heavily black-barred flanks, cinnamon crown and gorget, and reddish upperparts (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Perhaps most closely related to A. melanocephala, with this lineage representing the oldest divergence within the genus (2 Randi, E. (1996). A mitochondrial cytochrome B phylogeny of the Alectoris partridges. Mol. Phyl. & Evol.. 6(2): 214–227. Close ). Previously considered close to A. chukar, A. philbyi and A. rufa. It has been suggested that race barbata is sufficiently different morphologically and genetically to warrant separate treatment (3 Spanò, S., Pellegrino, I. and Borgo, E. (2013). On the systematic status of the Cyrenaic Partridge (Alectoris barbata Reichenow, 1896). Avocetta. 37: 145–148. Close ). Geographical variation largely clinal; proposed races duprezi (C Sahara mountains) and theresae (Morocco) included in spatzi. Four subspecies recognized.

Successfully introduced (koenigi) to Canary Is and (barbara) to Gibraltar. Introductions in rest of Europe, USA and Australia either unsuccessful from outset or populations died out.

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SUBSPECIES

Alectoris barbara koenigi Scientific name definitions

Distribution

NW Morocco; also Canary Is (where at least some populations introduced).

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SUBSPECIES

Alectoris barbara barbara Scientific name definitions

Distribution

NE Morocco, N Algeria and N Tunisia; Sardinia (possibly introduced).

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SUBSPECIES

Alectoris barbara spatzi Scientific name definitions

Distribution

S and E Morocco, N Mauritania, S Algeria, S Tunisia and NW and extreme SW Libya; presumably this race in N Chad (Tibesti).

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SUBSPECIES

Alectoris barbara barbata Scientific name definitions

Distribution

NE Libya; old records from NW Egypt.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Rocky areas and arid hillsides, and shrubby and wooded habitats, including open pine forest (4 Clarke, T. (2006). Birds of the Atlantic Islands. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) and Argan (Argania spinosa) woodland (5 Vernon, R., Thévenot, M., Bergier, P. and Rousseau, E. (2005). Argan woodland: an important bird habitat in Morocco. Bull. Afr. Bird Club 12(2): 134–146. Close ), up to 3300 m in Atlas Mts, where inhabits xerophytic vegetation, in sandy dunes and shrubby stands along dry riverbeds; also citrus plantations, areas of cropland, palm, citrus and olive groves, mattoral and maquis, subdesert steppes, and areas with Eucalyptus, Euphorbia, etc. In Morocco, numbers highest in mixture of woodland, clearings and crops . Occupies similar habitat to that of A. rufa and A. graeca, where these species are absent.

Mainly sedentary, but descends from upper zones of Atlas Mts during heavy winter snows, but even there the species has been recorde up to 3100 m in winter (6 Thévenot, M., R. Vernon, and P. Bergier (2003). The Birds of Morocco: An Annotated Check-list. British Ornithologists’ Union Check-list 20. British Ornithologists’ Union, Tring, UK. Close ).

Diet varied, but primarily leaves, shoots, fruits and seeds of wide range of grasses and herbs; insects, especially ants, are important supplement, but has also been recorded taking African desert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) (7 Ullman, M. (2006). African Desert Locusts in Morocco in November 2004. British Birds 99(9):489–491. Close ). Leaves of Salsola, Lycium and Asparagus, as well as fruits of Euphorbia, comprise up to one-third of stomach contents; succulent leaves provide moisture. Young commonly feed on ants. Coveys of up to 30 commonly form in non-breeding season, exceptionally up to 50 birds (6 Thévenot, M., R. Vernon, and P. Bergier (2003). The Birds of Morocco: An Annotated Check-list. British Ornithologists’ Union Check-list 20. British Ornithologists’ Union, Tring, UK. Close ).

Advertising and alarm calls differ from those of A. chukar and A. rufa; other calls similar (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Covey rallies with a repeated guttural squawking like that of congeners “kutchuk kutchuk”; in advertisement male perches erect atop prominent rock and gives a drawn-out, grating screech, like Common Barn-owl (Tyto alba), “krrraiiik”; and when flushed utters loud, high-pitched squeal “kree-ah” or “chuckachew-chew-chew-chew” of varying strength (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Lays late Feb to mid Jun in Morocco (peak mid Mar to mid Apr in one study) (8 Znari, M. (1998). Nesting and egg production in a Moroccan population of Barbary Partridge Alectoris barbara (Aves: Phasianidae). P. 341 in: . Close ); elsewhere dates believed similar, mostly Mar–May, although chick reported as early as late Jan in Egypt (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) and eggs in Dec on Canary Is (4 Clarke, T. (2006). Birds of the Atlantic Islands. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); breeding earlier in lowlands than in mountains; in very dry years, breeding may not occur at all in semi-arid areas. Monogamous; pair formation in spring, when male starts calling. Nest a depression in ground, usually with lining and placed under cover (long grass or boulder) (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Lays 6–27 (8 Znari, M. (1998). Nesting and egg production in a Moroccan population of Barbary Partridge Alectoris barbara (Aves: Phasianidae). P. 341 in: . Close ) eggs (mean of 25 clutches, 11·3), exceptionally 31 (8 Znari, M. (1998). Nesting and egg production in a Moroccan population of Barbary Partridge Alectoris barbara (Aves: Phasianidae). P. 341 in: . Close ), pale yellow-buff finely speckled reddish brown (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), size 36·8–44·5 mm × 27·8–31·8 mm, mass c. 19 g (9 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ), laid at 1·3–2·2-day intervals (8 Znari, M. (1998). Nesting and egg production in a Moroccan population of Barbary Partridge Alectoris barbara (Aves: Phasianidae). P. 341 in: . Close ); incubation 24–25 days (8 Znari, M. (1998). Nesting and egg production in a Moroccan population of Barbary Partridge Alectoris barbara (Aves: Phasianidae). P. 341 in: . Close ), commencing with final egg (9 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ); downy chicks hatch synchronously (9 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ), similar to those of A. rufa, are brown and cream above, creamy buff below, with well-marked streak over eye; capable of weak flight at 10–12 days and achieve adult size at age 50–60 days (9 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ). Sometimes lays two clutches, with male taking responsibility for second of these, as in A. chukar (10 Harrison, C. J. O., and P. Castell (2002). Bird Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East. Second revised edition. HarperCollins, London, UK. Close ). Heavy predation, especially by snakes, reported in some areas, accounting for > 50% of clutches; of those eggs not predated up to 94% hatched (8 Znari, M. (1998). Nesting and egg production in a Moroccan population of Barbary Partridge Alectoris barbara (Aves: Phasianidae). P. 341 in: . Close ), while two weeks after hatching mean brood size was nine individuals (6 Thévenot, M., R. Vernon, and P. Bergier (2003). The Birds of Morocco: An Annotated Check-list. British Ornithologists’ Union Check-list 20. British Ornithologists’ Union, Tring, UK. Close ). May not breed at all in particularly dry years in desert areas (6 Thévenot, M., R. Vernon, and P. Bergier (2003). The Birds of Morocco: An Annotated Check-list. British Ornithologists’ Union Check-list 20. British Ornithologists’ Union, Tring, UK. Close ). Breeds in first year (9 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Mace Lande: safe. Has declined locally and is probably even extinct in some areas, e.g. coast of NW Egypt, where last reported 1964 (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); elsewhere, in remote areas and where protected, common to abundant. Only recorded in S Algeria as recently as 1981, and reported in N Chad just twice, in 1936 and 1953 (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Local populations include: 600–1000 pairs on Canaries (breeds on all main islands except Gran Canaria, as well as several smaller islets) (11 Lever, C. (2005). Naturalised Birds of the World. T. & A.D. Poyser, London, UK. Close ), at least 3000 pairs on Sardinia (where purportedly introduced by the Romans) (11 Lever, C. (2005). Naturalised Birds of the World. T. & A.D. Poyser, London, UK. Close ), and 50 pairs on Gibraltar (first mentioned as early as 1771) (11 Lever, C. (2005). Naturalised Birds of the World. T. & A.D. Poyser, London, UK. Close ). Reports from S Spain near Gibraltar during mid-20th century probably involved birds released for hunting and there is no established population anywhere in mainland Spain (12 de Juana, E., and E. Garcia (2015). The Birds of the Iberian Peninsula. Bloomsbury, London, UK. Close ). The Gibraltar population was reinforced in 2014 by the progressive release of over 200 birds hatched locally from eggs supplied from N Morocco: habitat improvement measures, involving scrub clearance, and cat control, preceded these releases. Hunting pressure is main cause of local decreases in numbers throughout range, e.g. in Algeria, where occurs locally, and Morocco (5 Vernon, R., Thévenot, M., Bergier, P. and Rousseau, E. (2005). Argan woodland: an important bird habitat in Morocco. Bull. Afr. Bird Club 12(2): 134–146. Close ). The most important quarry species in N Africa; a rehabilitated area of 6500 ha near Rabat was restocked with some success during 1982–1991. Intensification of agricultural practices also a major cause of declines in places. Introduced unsuccessfully to Madeira and Hawaii (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), and populations on Fuerteventura, El Hierro, La Palma and probably Lanzarote (Canary Is) also introduced; that on Tenerife is older, but might have been introduced too (11 Lever, C. (2005). Naturalised Birds of the World. T. & A.D. Poyser, London, UK. Close ); local populations in this archipelago are restocked annually to accommodate sport hunting (4 Clarke, T. (2006). Birds of the Atlantic Islands. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).